WITH POWER ON: If there is an airfield that you can make, land wheels down. If you can't make an airfield, place the landing gear handle in the UP position. Even if the wheels are partly extended they collapse upon impact with the ground. WITH POWER OFF: If the engine fails completely and there is any doubt that you can make an airfield, you are better off landing wheels up than wheels down because: 1. You do much less damage to the airplane in a wheels-up landing than if you try a wheelsdown landing and mess it up. 2. You personally are in less danger. 3. It is difficult to determine the point of contact on the ground when you land with power off. Note: It's better to overshoot than undershoot the point of contact.

FORCED LANDING ON TAKEOFF If the engine fails during takeoff and you have no more than 1000 feet altitude, do not try to turn back to the field. More fighter pilots have been killed trying to turn back to the field after an engine failure during a takeoff than in any other type of forced landing. They invariably try to stretch their glides, thus violating a basic rule of flying. Instead of turning, continue straight ahead. Drop belly tank and bombs, place the landing gear handle UP, lower the flaps and maintain plenty of flying speed.